Range across tiers
American Home Shield
4.1/5 · BBB B
“Homeowners who want broad systems coverage with the flexibility to lower premiums by accepting a higher service fee.”
Photo · Naomi Hébert / Unsplash
Select Home Warranty
3.4/5 · BBB B-
“Price-first buyers who want the lowest monthly cost and value bundled roof-leak coverage.”
Photo · Curology / Unsplash
vs
§ 01Round by round
The Warranta verdict
American Home Shield is the broader-coverage choice with up to $6,000/yr systems caps and unusual pre-existing-condition protection, while Select Home Warranty is the budget option with the lowest service fees ($60 to $75) and bundled roof-leak coverage. Pick AHS if you want dependable systems limits and accept higher premiums; pick Select only if price is the overriding factor and you accept a $1,500 HVAC sub-cap and heavy denied-claim complaint volume.
Round by round · 11 criteriaSourced ratings
| Criterion | American Home Shield | Select Home Warranty | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.1Wins | 3.4 | — |
| Pricing | 3.7 | 4.4Wins | — |
| Coverage | 4.5Wins | 3.3 | — |
| Claims process | 3.8Wins | 2.9 | — |
| Customer service | 3.6Wins | 3.0 | — |
| Contractor network | 4.3Wins | 3.2 | — |
| Pricing | — | WinsWins | Select's $44 to $60/mo and $60 to $75 fee undercut AHS's $30 to $95/mo with a $100 or $125 fee. |
| Annual caps | WinsWins | — | AHS reaches up to $6,000/yr on systems; Select caps items at $3,000/yr with HVAC sub-capped at $1,500/yr, which often falls short of a replacement. |
| Coverage breadth | WinsWins | — | AHS covers some undetectable pre-existing conditions and improper installs; Select counters with free bundled roof-leak coverage AHS only offers as an add-on. |
| Claims experience | WinsWins | — | AHS's claims sub-score is 3.8 versus Select's 2.9, and Select has documented disputes over advertised-versus-contract coverage. |
| Customer sentiment | WinsWins | — | AHS's overall 4.1 and B BBB rating lead Select's 3.4 overall and B-minus BBB rating. |
American Home Shield
BBB B · 1971
4.1
Overall
Select Home Warranty
BBB B- · 2012
3.4
Overall
§ 02Who wins for you
If
“Pricing matters most”
Select's $44 to $60/mo and $60 to $75 fee undercut AHS's $30 to $95/mo with a $100 or $125 fee.
EdgeSelect Home Warranty
If
“Annual caps matters most”
AHS reaches up to $6,000/yr on systems; Select caps items at $3,000/yr with HVAC sub-capped at $1,500/yr, which often falls short of a replacement.
EdgeAmerican Home Shield
If
“Coverage breadth matters most”
AHS covers some undetectable pre-existing conditions and improper installs; Select counters with free bundled roof-leak coverage AHS only offers as an add-on.
EdgeAmerican Home Shield
If
“Claims experience matters most”
AHS's claims sub-score is 3.8 versus Select's 2.9, and Select has documented disputes over advertised-versus-contract coverage.
EdgeAmerican Home Shield
Across 5 rounds, American Home Shield takes more than it loses, but the right pick still turns on which of these criteria you weight. See the verdict above.
§ 03The figures, side by side
American Home Shield
- Monthly premium
- $30–$95/mo depending on plan tier
- Service fee options
- $100$125
- Service fee range
- $100 or $125 trade service-call fee
- Annual coverage limit
- Up to $6,000/yr on systems; per-appliance caps apply
- Waiting period
- 30-day waiting period for new plans (waived on real-estate transactions)
- Eligibility notes
- No home-age limit; pre-existing/known issues excluded
- Available in
- 8 states (VA, TX, FL, NC, CO, CA…)
At a glance
Per visit, paid to tech
Across plan tiers
Resets each contract year
Before claims are eligible
Home age / pre-existing
Excludes territories
Select Home Warranty
- Monthly premium
- $44–$60/mo depending on plan
- Service fee options
- $60$75
- Service fee range
- $60–$75 service-call fee
- Annual coverage limit
- $3,000/yr per covered item; HVAC capped at $1,500/yr
- Waiting period
- 30-day waiting period for new plans
- Eligibility notes
- No home-age limit; pre-existing conditions excluded
- Available in
- 8 states (TX, FL, NC, CO, GA, PA…)
At a glance
Range across tiers
Per visit, paid to tech
Across plan tiers
Resets each contract year
Before claims are eligible
Home age / pre-existing
Excludes territories
American Home Shield
4.1/5 · BBB B
“Homeowners who want broad systems coverage with the flexibility to lower premiums by accepting a higher service fee.”
See a quote
FTC ↘Warranta earns a commission when you buy a plan through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial analysis or the price you pay. Disclosure policy
Select Home Warranty
3.4/5 · BBB B-
“Price-first buyers who want the lowest monthly cost and value bundled roof-leak coverage.”
See a quote
FTC ↘Warranta earns a commission when you buy a plan through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial analysis or the price you pay. Disclosure policy
Round winners and the use-case cards above reconcile against Warranta’s rating methodology. Scores are on a 5-point scale.
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